COMMITTEE TAKES CRACK AT GROW-OP HOME OWNERS

Cost Recovery At Heart Of Proposed Bylaws

Members of the city's licensing and standards committee are cracking
down on property owners who allow their houses to be used for
marijuana grow operations.

The committee endorsed two bylaws Tuesday that, if supported by
council, will make it an offence to cause, allow or permit a property
to be used as a marijuana grow-op and will set out a series of
escalating fines and a cost recovery plan whereby the property owner
would be charged for any expenses incurred by the city during grow-op
investigations.

Ward 39 (Scarborough-Agincourt) Councillor Mike Del Grande, who spent
two years crafting the bylaws with city staff, said the bylaws will
put landlords on notice.

"It's a very strong first step for Toronto," he said.

Under the City of Toronto Act, the city is required to inspect a
premise when notified by the police of a grow operation.

The city is then required to take action, which results in costs
being incurred, to address the illegal activities and any violations
of municipal regulations.

Under the proposed bylaw, the city would have the authority to
recover the costs of that remedial work by placing those costs on the
tax roll and collecting them as taxes.

Any costs associated with the investigation, inspection, review and
preparation of reports, enforcement, administrative work,
court/tribunal attendance and legal work could be recovered from the
property owner.

If the costs are not recovered, a lien could then be issued on the
property and added to the tax bill.